Shakespeare Sword - cardboard prop

 by caitlinsdad
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Need a sword prop for your Shakespeare production?  No brooding Hamlet nor gentlemen of the court should be without one.  Goths and emos could probably use one.

Caitlin's English class is taking part in doing a reading of "Midsummer's Night Dream".  A couple of the characters do draw swords and someone asked if they could have props.  The teacher said it was okay for the kids to go get a couple of play swords from the dollar store to use.  Now when Caitlin relayed the tale to me, I envisioned that the others would bring in swashbuckling plastic scimitars or worse yet, pool noodle swords.  Any you know me, no -  that will not do, we must build them ourselves.

And thus, the gauntlet was thrown, make a prop sword, a few extra for her friends, and a spare for the teacher.  A weekend project.

I guess when she takes it to school, if I get a call, the "weapons" were confiscated or they will be used for the play.

CAUTION:  These are props but still should be used with care.  They are blunt at the end but are hard enough to cause injury when forcibly used to whack, chop, or knight a person.
 
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Step 1: Ode to a box...

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You could make this out of some wood and end up like Calvin and Hobbes.

You could make this out of dowels or a yardstick and foam.

My weapon of choice, cardboard - because we can.

You will also need:

glue 
utility knife of heavy-duty scissors

marker or pencil

aluminum foil tape - found at home centers, used for metal duct work sealing and repair
double-sided carpet tape - found at home centers, really sticky double sided tape

yarn - various colours to wrap the handle

I also used a piece of reflective tape I had lying around to cover the center of the hilt.  If you take a picture of it, the flash bounces off of it lighting it up like a jewel encrusted sword.


NachoMahma says: Mar 28, 2011. 7:00 AM
. I really, really wanted to give this 5*, but I see absolutely no mention of yours truly. There is no joy in Mudville. :P
Goodhart in reply to NachoMahmaMar 28, 2011. 2:54 PM
?
caitlinsdad (author) in reply to NachoMahmaMar 28, 2011. 11:15 AM
I am not that kind of person to stick it to you...mebbe stab you in the back...wait, that sounds wrong too.
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